In the DOS Archives: Allison Plays Family Feud!

Continuing on this classic MS-DOS kick I’ve gotten into since discovering ClassicReload.com, I’m taking on the challenge of 1987’s “Family Feud!”

Last Time, on Retroist…

Third grade computer science meets the point-and-click semi-educational game, and I discovered Classic Reload. I played Broderbund’s The Treehouse. We laughed, we didn’t cry, and we can’t get that song out of our heads!

This week, we move forward a few years to middle school and their Computer Science class.

The year…

1996

I was in seventh grade in 1995-1996. Languages and computer class were split year classes – Introduction to Spanish and French for two marking periods, then midterms, and the third and fourth marking periods were spent in Computer class. Computer science class was a totally different concept than it is now – in 1995, we weren’t taught about the internet; rather, we engaged in timed typing, learning how to use a keyboard (remember the home row? Yeah, I don’t use that anymore!), and moving beyond just playing games in class. Our teacher did, however, have floppy disks of different games, so we did have a day here and there where we could play them. We had Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy, and Family Feud, among other games. I used to play Family Feud whenever we had the chance.

Like alot of aspects of my childhood, I loved the game, but obviously lost track of it.

And thanks to Classic Reload, I rediscovered that fun game.

Even better, I made a gameplay video.

(Be sure to stick around for the rather interesting surprise ending you’ll never see coming!)

Gameplay – Family Feud

Upload via Allison Venezio / Allison’s Written Words

In A Nutshell…

The concept of Family Feud is simple enough without instruction, but it helps to be familiar with the show and the kind of questions that are asked. This game was just as fun as I remembered it. The color palette is quite…colorful. I love the family setup – you have two similar-looking families – Dad, Mom, Brother, Sister…and Boy. Yes, his name is “Boy.” Couldn’t they just call them Brother #1 and Brother #2?

You can choose your last name for the family you play as – for more fun than I did, play as your own family!

The game is for up to two players (or one player controlling both teams). The sound is very limited, and memory doesn’t recall how it sounded on the floppy disk game. As for playability, the game is fun, and I’ve tried it in short spurts a few times prior to recording. I’ve had to put on my “think like it’s 1987” hat, mostly because the game didn’t recognize one of my answers, so I found some challenges with the survey questions. But still, I love it, and if you like/love Family Feud, this is the perfect game for you!

Once again, thanks to Classic Reload for having cool games like this (and many other choice selections) in their collection. If you haven’t already checked them out, please do so!

Allison is a Secretary by day, a writer/blogger by night (and during lunch breaks and in the mornings before work), a nostalgia geek (and a geek in general), worshipper of Thor (and Chris Hemsworth), and honorary Avenger (she has a pin, so it is official).She collects Itty Bittys and Funko Pops, loves anything that takes her back to childhood, and has confessed her love for Kenny Loggins.Oh, and she listens to Chicago...alot.If any of this piques your interest, she'd love for you to visit her personal blog, Allison's Written Words, where she talks about alot of the same stuff she talks about here, and more!

She can be found at allisonveneziowrites.com.You can follow her blog on Facebook (facebook.com/allisonswrittenwords) and on Twitter @AllisonGeeksOut.